Bumper rack



No v. 4, 1930. w. E. v. SHAW BUMPER RACK Filed April 28, 1930 fm/enior l V/LL/AM f. l/JHA vv a um Patented Nov. 4, 1930 PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM V. SHAW, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA BnMPER RACK Application filed April 2 8,

v 10 to provide a trussed structure, which islettachable by frictional contact to a support ;'to provide such; a device having means-automatically operable to frictionally attach it to a support and to further provide means-01 15 augmenting the frictional action of the last mentioned means. i

Features of the invention include all the details of construction, along with the broader features. i

20 Features'iand advantages will beset forth in the description of the drawings forming-a partof this application, *andin said drawings;

Figure l'isa plan view'showing two-of the devices applied to the bumper of an'yautomo- Figure 2 is a vertical cross section 5- Figure3'is a detailplan view; A Figure 451s avertica'l section corresponding to Fignre 2; and showing-a modified form;

Figurefi is avertical section corresponding to Figure 2-,- andshow-inga: second modificai .p

third modification; and p Figure '7 's a vertical sectioncorresponding tOfiFigureQ, and showing a'fourth modification.

In thisinstance, two of the devices of the invention herein have been shown applied to tlielfront bumper of an automobile; Referrin to Figure '1, this bumper includes upper an lower front sp'ringse'ctions l, and a rear spring section 2 connected at theendsl as at 3 to the sections 1, and additionally connected at'a midpointasat l. The bumper is secured "inthe usual manner'to theautomobile at 6. Inf this case, t wo of the devices of this inventionhave been shown'attached to the bumper "and the" devices are identicalin structure.

@350 Thedeviceisformedfroma single pieceof Figure 6 is aperspective viewshowing a and lower sections. Although the tension of l and providing a thumb nut 28 inthreaded "engagement withthe bolt. For bumpers of 1930. Serial No. 448,132. E

strap metal bent to provide a generally triangulartrussed structure best shown in Figure 2. This structure includes a loadreceiving portion designated 10 adapted to assume a substantially horizontal position when the device is, attached. The terminal portions of the strip are bent downwardly and toward one another respectively as at 11 .12 to form the other two sides 1314 of the triangle,qa'nd then are again bent upwardly as. at 15-16 to provide two portions -17-2 )'opposed to. form a clampa The strap metal is .springy, and element tends constantly to move forcefully toward'elements 17 As. here shown these portions are substantially perpendicular to. the portion 10, anid the. portion 17 is secured asat 18 to the portion 10. A trussed structure is thus formed. The up-turned portion 20 is not attached to the part 10, but has aireduce d 7 centrally arranged lug 21".which is slidably engaged in a'sloti-22, elongated in direction ofthe long dimension of the element 10. Motion of the element 20 ina direction perpendicular to its clamping motion is thus pre- 75 "vented. The .frame is formed. of springy material, andthe opposed portions may be normally engaged. It will be noted at least one of the elements isfree to yield in directionaway from the other, and the element '20 does so yieldwhen the device is forced over the bumper tothe position shown in Figure 2. As shownin Figure 2, the front spring 1 of the bumper is really composed of upper the: element 20 is ordinarily sufiicient to'secure the device'in operative position, auxiliary means is provided both for preventing motion .ofthe device in aqvertical direction,

the element 17 to increase the clampingaction. This means isprovided by forming =openings 26 in the elements 17 and 20, and by passing a bolt 27 through these openings,

the type shown, including upper and lower members 1, this auxiliary clampingmeans is arranged in the space between these memsupport 1.

When a device is used on a bumper of the general type shown in Figure 2, which has front and rear portions 1 and 2, it sometimes happens that the parts are so related as to require the bending of the element 14 as at A structural modification is shown in Figure 4, wherein the upper terminal of the element 2 0 is-bent horizontally as at 29. This is done because sometimes when attaching the rack to the bumper, or other support, and pressing downwardly to separate the elements 26 and 29 against their spring tension, the element 20 may be deformed due to pressure applied in directon of the arrow A. The part 29 is, therefore, arranged to act as a stop resting on the top of the edge of the bumper to prevent motion in the direction indicated.

The end 30 of this element 29 is made as long as possible and extends into a recess 31 formed, for example, by curving the upper end of the element 17. The structure just described prevents withdrawal of the stop 29, when the device 28 draws element 20 toward element 17. A pin 32 traverses the element 529 and operates in the slot 33 sub stantially in the manner of the element 21.

Figure 6 shows a modification 01 the elenient of Figure 4, in which, instead ofthe pin 32, an equivalent device is formed by punching and turning up a portion of the stop 29 as at 35. I 1

Another modification is shown in Figure 5, in which the stop 29? is provided with adownturned terminal portion 36 to form a kind of hook which engages over theupper edge of the bumper section 1. \Viththis construc tion', the stop cannot possiblybe withdrawn.

To provide for play between the end 36 of the stop and the-element 17, this element is first bent outwardly'as at 38 then upwardly as at 39 and then horizontally as at 40. A recess ll is thus'formed. The horizontal portion l0 is suitably secured as at 1.8 to the eleinent 10. Play between the elements 36 and 39 is provided as described for the corresponding structure in Figure 4E. The 'portion 36 is also spaced from the bumper or Pin l2 enters the slot d3. The hook-like structure of Figure 5 is advantageous where approximate thickness of the V p I .piece of metal bent to provide a trussed strucbumper is known, and of course the recess formed by elements 20, 29 and 36 is made suiiiciently wide to receive supports of different thicknesses.

The present invention contemplates the very cheap production of a device of the nature described herein. As a matter of fact, the device is most economically formed from a single piece of resilient material having one end attached to a portion of itself,- and having the other end bent to lie in opposition to the connected portion, andto be capable of a tensioned motion toward the connected portion. Insome instances, it will be unnecessary'to provide a guide lug 21 or a slot 22,

or their functional analogues shown as modified structures.

In the modification shown in Figure 7, the element is turned in direction opposite to the element 29 and means to prevent separation of the elements 17-20 is provided. In this instance, this means comprises a screw 51 having its shank passing through the extension 50 and through a slot 57 in the element 10, along with a wing nut 52 in threaded engagen'ient with the screw to clamp the parts against motion in direction of the arrow B. This clamp is made active only after the elements 17-20 have been attached in the usual manner by springing them apart.

All details of construction are included as features of the invention, along with the broader features, which are not intended to be limited by details.

I claim as my invention:

1. A bumper rack having a load-supporting; portion, and opposed portions one of which-is yieldable and adapted to move toward the other under tension to act as a clamp.

2. A bumper rack comprising a single piece of metal bent to provide a load supporting portion, and opposed portions one of which is yieldable and adapted to move towardthe other under tension to act as a clamp. v

' 3. A bumper rack comprising a single piece of metal bent to substantially triangular form, and to provide two opposed portions which extend from one of the apices ;of the triangle across the same, and which lie substantially perpendicular to that side .oppositethe apex, one of said opposed portions being adapted to move toward the other under tension. v

4. A bumper rackhaving a substantially triangular form, and having two opposed portions which extend from one of the apices of the triangle across the same and which lie substantially perpendicular to that side opposite the apex, one of said opposed portions being adapted to .move toward the other under tension.

7 .5. A bumper rack comprising a single is yieldable and adapted to move toward the other under tenslon, said opposed portions being arranged in substantially perpendicular relat on to the load-recelving portion. 6. A bumper rack comprising a single piece of metalbent toprovide a trussed structure including a load-receiving portion adapted to assume a substantially horizontal positionwhen the device is attached, and to provide opposed portions one of which is yieldable and adapted to move toward the other under tension, said opposed portion being arranged in substantially perpendicular relation to the load-receiving portion, and means for securing the opposed portions against separation after attachment to a bumper or support.

7. A bumper rack comprising a single piece of metal bent to substantially triangular form, and to provide two opposed portions which extend from one of the apices of the triangle across the same and which lie substantially perpendicular to that side opposite the apex, one ofsaid opposed portions being adapted to move toward the other under tension and stop means for preventing deformation of the movable portion when attaching the rack and after attachment. v

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 24th day of April, 1930.

WILLIAM E. V. SHAW. 

